CECIL R. STOKELY

The following bio was taken from page 396 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

 Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

My ancestors have been coming from the area of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  My great-great-grandfather, Harvey Stokely, was born December 3, 1793 and married Sara Blount in 1828.  They had seven children, the oldest being Jackson Blount, my great-grandfather.  He was born June 17, 1832 and married Mary Virginia Vaughan in April, 1858 at Old St. Stephens, Blount County, Alabama.  In 1871, they came by boat from Mobile, Alabama to Houston, Texas and then by train to Hockley.

 After their arrival in Texas, my grandfather, Arthur DeLeon was born on May 16, 1871 at Hempstead.  He was the fourth of five children by this marriage.  He married Troy Perkins Oglivie on August 28, 1892 at Armour, Limestone County, Texas. To this union were born eight children.  The oldest Loris Eugene, my father, was born April 21, 1894 at Coolidge, Limestone County, Texas.  He married Callie Alice Brewer on July 6, 1913 at Coolidge.  He was employed at the icehouse there and was a part-time farmer.  To this union, eleven children were born.  The sixth child, Cecil Randolph, was born September 29, 1924 on a farm approximately one mile south of Coolidge.

 I attended the Coolidge Public Schools through the fifth grade until, in 1935, the family moved to the East Texas oil field and settled in Kilgore.  I attended Kilgore Public Schools and Kilgore College. My wife, Lerline Thompson, and I were married on June 13, 1947 at the Church of the Nazarene in Kilgore.

 After working nineteen years for Humble Oil & Refining Company.  I resigned to go into the nursing home business with my wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Thompson, In New London.  After several years in training in order to provide better nursing care.  I enrolled in nursing school at Kilgore College and graduated in May, 1976. 

As a Registered Nurse, I enjoyed privileges of service that I had not known before.  After fourteen wonderful years of service, I decided to sell Sunshine Nursing Home.  This was one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make.  After selling, I accepted the job of Administrator at Overton Memorial Hospital.

 Lerline and I have a son, Kenneth Wayne, born March 3, 1953 at Overton Memorial Hospital.  He married Christel Jean Burnes on July 29, 1977 in Kansas City, Missouri.

 Our daughter, Carolyn Sue, was also born December 17, 1955 at Overton Memorial Hospital.  She married Gerald Wayne Wesson on September 3, 1977 in Kilgore.  Both Kenneth and Carolyn live in Kilgore.  We have two fine grandchildren.  Scott Wayne Stokely was born February 22, 1979 in Kansas City, Missouri; and Jeremy Lee Wesson was born October 14, 1979 in Longview.  My hobbies include music, reading, and genealogy.  With my church work, I am hard pressed to find time to devote to my hobbies.

 Submitted by Cecil R. Stokely